The Effect of Coconut Fiber as Concrete Reinforcement on Abrasion Resistance and Water Permeability

• Main Authors: Aquino, Karl Andre F., Lasay, Marie Bernadette B., Acuña, Jesus E., Herbon, Armaine Lizbeth B.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2021
• Subjects: concrete; coconut fiber; abrasion resistance; water permeability
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/conf_shsrescon/2021/paper_men/6; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/conf_shsrescon/article/1633/viewcontent/ME_The_Effect_of_Coconut_Fiber_as_Concrete_Reinforcement_on_Abrasion.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

The quality of infrastructure in the Philippines is one of the lowest amongst its neighboring countries. This is affected by the materials used in construction such as concrete. The mechanical and durability properties of concrete can be improved with fiber reinforcements. Coconut fiber is known to be the most ductile from all natural fibers, and the Philippines is a major producer of coconut. The study aims to determine the effect of coconut fiber on concrete reinforcement by examining its abrasion resistance and water permeability. The samples were cured for 28 days after setting and subjected to abrasion resistance and water permeability tests. The abrasion resistance decreased with higher fiber content; however, fiber content equal to or lower than 2.5% had higher resistance as compared to normal concrete. The water permeability of samples increased along with the coconut fiber content, with a significant increase observed in fiber contents equal to above 5%. The best overall results were achieved with CFRC containing 2.5% fiber content.